SCI 101
An SCI where some movement or sensation remains below the injury
What is an incomplete injury
People with higher level SCIs may have weaker support from these muscles needed for speech
What are the respiratory muscles (diaphragm)?
Everyone with a spinal cord injury uses a wheelchair
What is a myth?
Doing this every 15-30 minutes helps prevent pressure injuries
What are pressure reliefs/weight shifts?
This common complication causes a sudden drop in blood pressure when moving from lying to sitting
What is orthostatic hypotension?
This part of the spinal cord controls chest muscles and trunk stability
What is the thoracic region?
This type of breathing exercise helps strengthen the diaphragm by focusing on belly movement
What is diaphragmatic breathing?
Only high-level injuries affect breathing
Staying hydrated helps reduce the risk of this common complication
What are urinary tract infections (UTIs)?
This condition involves dangerous spikes in blood pressure, usually in people with injuries at T6 or above
What is autonomic dysreflexia?
This type of imaging is most commonly used to see soft tissue and spinal cord damage
What is an MRI?
This type of exercise program helps people with SCI improve breath support for speech and coughing by strengthening the muscles used inhaling and exhaling
What is respiratory muscle strength training?
A urinary tract infection (UTI) can cause confusion and difficulty concentrating
What is a fact? UTIs can show up first as changes in thinking, confusion, difficulty concentrating and increased fatigue even before bladder symptoms appear
This routine helps regulate bowel movements and prevent accidents
What is a bowel program?
People with SCI are at higher risk for this type of blood clot, especially early after injury
What is a deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
Damage to this part of the nervous system can affect heart rate, blood pressure, and sweating
What is the autonomic nervous system?
This device can help clear secretions when someone can't generate a strong cough
What is a cough assist?
People with SCIs can't regulate their body temperature normally
What is a fact? Thermoregulation is often impaired
Keeping your legs elevated and wearing compression garments can help manage this condition
When someone can't generate a strong cough, mucus can build up and lead to this respiratory problem
What is pneumonia?
This sudden drop in blood pressure when sitting up is common early after SCI
What is orthostatic hypotension?
This lung volume, the max amount of air a person can exhale after a full inhalation, is often reduced after SCI
What is vital capacity?
Autonomic dysreflexia can happen even when someone doesn't feel the trigger
What is a fact? Lack of sensation doesn't prevent AD
To prevent shoulder overuse injuries from wheelchair propulsion, people are encouraged to strengthen this specific muscle group that stabilizes the shoulder blade
What are the scapular stabilizers?
This common complication of reduced mobility and impaired sensation can develop quickly and may start as redness that doesn't fade when pressure is removed
What is a pressure injury (pressure ulcer)?